BRENDAN KELLY could not have asked for a better display in his first game in charge of Bromsgrove Sporting as his side easily brushed aside Boldmere St Michaels at the Victoria Ground.
Jason Cowley had given the Rouslers a 21st-minute lead before Richard Gregory smashed home a penalty 20 minutes later to score in an astonishing 12th consecutive game.
John Pykett crashed home the third prior to the hour mark to all but secure the points for Sporting who completed the scoring in the 85th minute, with Cowley rounding off a free-flowing move from close range.
The victory sent Sporting three points clear at the top of the Midland League Premier Division with a game in hand on second-placed Coleshill Town.
“We kept our shape well and did not get dragged out of position,†he said.
“We limited Boldmere to one clear-cut chance which forced a good save out of Reece Francis but that apart I thought we played some really good football.
“I was a little bit nervous before the game but I could not have asked for more from the lads.
“It has been a strange week and I knew there would be a little bit of apprehension but once we got into the game we played some fantastic stuff.â€
It took Sporting at least quarter of an hour to settle and should have taken the lead not long after when Cowley rounded Boldmere keeper Reiss Wagstaff after pouncing on a misplaced header by Harry Craven.
However, the striker could only drag his effort wide with an open goal at his mercy.
Immediately up the other end Sporting keeper Francis had to react quickly to deny Ryan Nesbitt from poking home from close range.
Despite his earlier woes, Cowley registered himself on the scoresheet in the 21st minute when he latched on to Josh Quaynor’s neatly placed throughball and lifted the ball over the onrushing Wagstaff into the far corner of the net.
From then on Sporting started the control the game and just a few minutes before they break they were awarded a penalty after Drew Canavan was pushed in the area by Brandon Williams.
There was no doubting Gregory would find the back of the net from 12 yards as he sent Wagstaff the wrong way to make give the hosts a 2-0 lead at half-time.
After the interval it took Sporting just 12 minutes to grab there third when Pykett made the most of Boldmere’s inability to clear their lines and smash home a left-footed effort into the far corner.
A brave Boldmere continued to come forward with Ben Usher-Shipway seeing a low shot saved while a last-ditch block from Craig Jones prevented Jack Skinner from reducing the arrears.
But it was Sporting who would have the last say five minutes from time when Cowley grabbed his second of the game after finishing off a free-flowing move which culminated from some good link-up play between Luke Dugmore and Sean Brain.
Report courtesy of Craig Gibbons (Bromsgrove Standard) |